nd some tragedies, noted only for
their worthlessness. Even Richelieu, "quoiqu' admirateur indulgent de la
mediocrite," could not stand Calprenede's tragedies. _Reine Marguerite_
is probably the translation by Robert Codrington of the Memorials of
Margaret of Valois, first wife of Henri IV. Bussy is a servant of the
Duke of Avenson, Margaret's brother, with whom Margaret is very
intimate.

Of Lady Sunderland and Mr. Smith we have already sufficient knowledge.
As for Sir Justinian, we are not to think he was already married; the
reference to his "new wife" is merely jocular, meaning his new wife when
he shall get one; for Sir Justinian is still wife-hunting, and comes
back to renew his suit with Dorothy after this date. "Your
fellow-servant," who is as often called Jane, appears to have been a
friend and companion of Dorothy, in a somewhat lower rank of life. Mrs.
Goldsmith, mentioned in a subsequent letter,--wife of Daniel Goldsmith,
the rector of Campton, in which parish Chicksands was situated,--acted
as chaperon or duenna companion to Dorothy, and Jane was, it seems to
me, in a similar position; only, being a younger woman than the rector's
wife, she was more the companion and less the duenna. The servants and
companions of ladies of that date were themselves gentlewomen of good
breeding. Waller writes verses to Mrs. Braughton, servant to Sacharissa,
commencing his lines, "Fair fellow-servant." Temple, had he written
verse to his mistress, would probably have left us some "Lines to Jane."

There is in Campton Church a tablet erected to Daniel Goldsmith,
"Ecclesiae de Campton Pastor idem et Patronus;" also to Maria Goldsmith,
"uxor dilectissima." This is erected by Maria's faithful sister, Jane
Wright; and if the astute reader shall think fit to agree with me in
believing Temple's "fellow-servant" to be this Jane Wright on such
slender evidence and slight thread of argument, he may well do so.
Failing this, all search after Jane will, I fear, prove futile at this
distant date. There are constant references to Jane in the letters. "Her
old woman," in the same passage, is, of course, a jocular allusion to
Dorothy herself; and "the old knight" is, I believe, Sir Robert Cook, a
Bedfordshire gentleman, of whom nothing is known except that he was
knighted at Ampthill, July 21st, 1621. We hear some little more of him
from Dorothy.

Note well the signature of this and following letters; it will help us
to discover what pas